Joseph T. Dickman papers

Collection — Box: 6

Identifier: MSS 1659

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Joseph T. Dickman Papers date 1864-1929 and consists of six boxes. The collection contains materials related to the decades-long military career of Major General Dickman, including correspondence, scrapbooks, journals, military papers and reports, maps and newspaper clippings. Portions of the collection have been damaged due to insect and age and thus require care in handling. Some of the scrapbooks have been taken apart into sections and placed in folders in boxes. Others remain bound but again, require care in handling.

Dates

1864-1929

Creator

Dickman, Joseph Theodore, 1857-1927 (Person)

Language of Materials

English Spanish

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is available for the purpose of research. Consideration of copyright is the responsibility of the author or publisher.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Theodore Dickman was born in Dayton in 1857, the son of Theodore Dickman and Mary Weinmar. Upon graduation from Wapakoneta high school in 1874, Dickman taught school before attending West Point in 1875. Dickman graduated from West Point in 1881 as a second lieutenant, 3rd U.S. Cavalry. He first served at Ft. Sanders, Wyoming, then attended the infantry-cavalry school at Fort Leavenworth, graduating with honors in 1883. From there, he went to Arizona and Texas, 1883-1885, participating in the campaign against Geronimo in 1885. While in the field at Los Angeles, Texas, he was involved in operations against Caterino Garza and other Mexican "bandits." Dickman himself captured Benavidas Cecilio Eschevarria, a notorious "desperado." In 1894, Lt. Dickman found himself leading troops during the Pullman Strike in Chicago, a role he did not rate highly. In 1898, Dickman and the 3rd Cavalry served in Cuba, participating at El Caney and El Poso Hill. He then stayed on as part of the occupation force. Back in the States, he was promoted to first Major, then Lt. Colonel of the 26th Infantry in 1899. He was then sent to the Philippines, and was heavily involved in the fighting there. He was still in the Philippines, establishing local civil governments, when he was ordered to China, where he participated in the China Relief Expedition. He returned to Manila in December 1900, and served as Chief-of-Staff for the Philippine Department. Mustered out in 1901, Dickman reverted back to Captain in the Cavalry. Over the next decade, he returned to Ft Leavenworth as an instructor, became a member of the first General Staff, saw duty in the War Department and graduated from the War College in 1905. He became a strong outspoken supporter of creating the army reserves. After the United States entered the First World War on the side of the Allies in April, 1917, Dickman was promoted to Brigadier General in May, then Major General. He was given command of the 3rd Division, participating in the Battle of the Marne, where the 3rd earned the sobriquet "The Rock of the Marne" for their stand during the German offensive. He took command of IV Corp and was involved in the St. Mihiel Salient and the Meuse-Argonne offensive and the battle of Sedan. He moved on to command the 3rd Army, right before the Armistice on Nov. 11th. The 3rd served as the Army on the Rhine, following the retreating Germans in ensure the terms of the armistice were observed, and to occupy a bridgehead in Germany. By the time Dickman returned to the States in July 1919, he had received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Belgian decoration of Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold I, the English honor Knight Commander of the Bath (found in collection) and the French Cross of Commander of the Legion of Honor. Dickman was then sent to command the Southern Department in San Antonio, Texas. Despite rumors of promotion, Dickman was given a permanent rank of Major General by the Senate, Dec. 19th, 1919. He retired in 1922. His book "The Great Crusade" was published just months before his death in 1927.

Extent

2 Cubic Feet

Additional Description

Other Finding Aids

printed aid available

Physical Description

6 boxes, two cubic feet.

Legal Status

The Ohio History Connection holds the property rights to this collection.

Subjects

Chicago Strike, 1894 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
China Relief Expedition, 1900-1901 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Dickman, Joseph Theodore, 1857-1927 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Garza Revolution, 1891-1893 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Marne, 2nd Battle of the, France, 1918 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Philippines -- History -- Philippine American War, 1899-1902 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Spanish-American War, 1898 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Campaigns -- Cuba Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Campaigns -- Philippines Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Medical and sanitary affairs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 3rd Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 26th Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 3rd Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1914-1918 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
booklets Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
clippings (information artifacts) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
diaries Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
letters (correspondence) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
manuscripts (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
maps (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus